Get Your Second. Here’s why.
It seems like every season we receive messages from previous clients who ease into the question: “so which pups don’t have homes from this litter?” We can count on at least one family reaching out to us with that innocent inquiry that we recognize as familiar. There is just something about the Australian Shepherd breed that leaves you wanting more. Each relationship that we see develop between a Busbee Aussies pup and their owner reminds us that Aussie ownership is more than just becoming a ‘pet parent’; it truly is a life changing experience.
If you are reading this article, then you probably resonate with the idea that from the moment your Aussie entered your home, it felt like they were a part of the family. Aussies have an incredible ability to challenge us in ways that bring humans closer to each other. They become the focal point of our homes. For our family, we have found so much value in our dogs consistency. We can always count on Cedar to be a bright smile in our faces, whether we like it or not. At times, we would trade a hug from a person for a bear hug from our Bear. Magnolia demands snuggle time before bed, end of story. No matter what mood we might be in, or what is going on in our schedule, our Aussies continuously support us and our family in ways that they don’t realize. I would argue, this blessing shows itself most when two(or so) Aussies are in your pack.
What I’m trying to say is, the Australian Shepherd experience as you know it only gets sweeter when a second pup enters the home. Sure, the first two weeks or so will be an adjustment period. However, the bond that your new pup will build with your family will be one that brings out the best in all of you. It is our belief that Australian Shepherds shine brightest when they have a playmate and best friend of their own.
When your pack grows in size, your pups begin to rely more on each other for fun, training, and exercise. Your second Aussie will quickly pick up on your first’s tendencies and habits. This can be a great thing! In our experience, all forms of training are much more simple and easy on the second-go-round, especially potty and crate training. For us, our second Aussie(Magnolia) fit right in to our home. Like many Aussie owners, we already had multiple of the common dog supplies around the house. While having access to a decent size backyard, the question for us was not if we had room or the supplies, it was just a matter of finding the right genetics. With that being said, our recommendation is: if you have the space and a little extra time, having a second Aussie is twice the fun and reward, without much of the initial work that took place during your first adjustment period.